Demolition delayed for vacant Alamo Heights property

Published 2:59 pm, Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Richard Peacock Jr. a principal with Broadway Ellwood Co., is dispatching a letter this week to Alamo Heights residents about the beginning of asbestos abatement on the abandoned structures at Austin Highway, Broadway and Ellwood.

According to Peacock, the asbestos abatement program is to start Monday, Sept. 29, and take three to four weeks to complete.

Peacock said he and his business partners hope that demolition will begin by early November, and end by that month's end.

The property continues to be scrutinized by Alamo Heights officials and residents, as it was where Dallas firm Alamo Manhattan had proposed a multi-story, multi-use complex.

Following months of debate and sizing down the project to address concerns, the developer nixed the plan and terminated its contract for the property.

“We really thought we were on a good path with it,” Peacock told the Alamo Heights Weekly about Alamo Manhattan's basic concept.

“We thought it had met requirements for redevelopment, and thought it'd be a good use of the land.”

Peacock said he and his associates acknowledged all concerns expressed over the Alamo Heights Gateway project. In the meantime, the city has granted the property owners' request to get rid of the existing structures.

“We are as anxious as anyone that these buildings be removed, and are very sorry for the delay in the demolition process,” Peacock wrote.

“We initially thought we could donate/move the houses, and it took us an extended period of time to determine that this unfortunately wasn't possible.”

Peacock and his associates are now in what he called a “vetting phase,” and await to see what if anything could end up happening on the site.

“We continue to study and discuss various development options for the property with interested parties,” Peacock's letter states.

“We are beginning to narrow down the possible uses, and hope to present a proposal to our community later this fall.”

Peacock said he and his colleagues welcome feedback about the property via email: broadwayellwood@gmail.com.